Danakil Depression Tigray Rock Hewn Churches 5 Days Tour

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Addis Abeba⌄

   Arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your reserved hotel. After time to refresh, take a guided city tour of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, and the third highest capital in the world. You will start the tour with a visit to the National Museum, home to one of the world’s most important paleontological exhibits in the world; ‘Lucy’. Next, you will visit Entoto Mountain, which overlooks the whole of Addis Ababa. Marvel at the panoramic views of the capital amidst the fresh breeze of the eucalyptus forests. Then visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church. As the final resting place of much-loved Emperor Haile Selassie, Holy Trinity Cathedral is one of the country’s most sacred places of worship. The city tour will end with an exploration of the colourful Merkato, Africa’s largest open-air market.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Best western plus hotel

2. 2Addis Ababa – Fly To Semera Drive To Afdera-Volcano⌄

   This day, we will meet you at the town of Semera airport, and then we will drive to Danakil depression. We start an early drive to Lake Afdera(a salt lake that is located in the heart of Danakil Depressions and in this lake you may have a chance at the natural hot springs then later you have to swim around this lake we will be driving to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale). Leave after lunch, possibly at 01:30. After you pass several small hamlets scattered here and there in this desert land, Dodom is about 9.5km from Erta Ale and takes about 1 hour of trekking. Early dinner around 17:00, Camels transport all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mat and water) to the volcano’s rim, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Danakil Depression (dallol and Erta Ale) ranks as one of Ethiopia’s most alluring and physically challenging natural attraction.

   Meals: Lunch · Dinner: Unfortunatel, we don't have vegetables or vegan food in Dankil Depression. Be aware for this.

   Overnight: Camping in Ertale Ale in the mountains

3. 3ErtaAle-HamadEla-Dallol-Afdera⌄

   This day after an early breakfast, we will drive to HamadEla at 8: 30 am, a better village with a total population of about 500 people. You will see lots of camel caravans, and you will have the sunset look from the very shallow salt Lake Assale. Morning tour Drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the localities are mining salt. 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi) of the Afar Depression is covered by salt, and you will Look at the activity of breaking the salt from the ground, local people are cutting it into rectangular pieces and loading it on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol and visit the different landscapes formed by volcanic activity; Dallol + Lake Assale + salt canon, camel caravans, follow up camel caravans, and Drive to Lake Afdera

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight: Camping in Lake Afdera

4. 4Afdera- Mekelle to Abune Yemata Guh.⌄

   This day, you may have another chance to see the beauty of the sunrise in Lake Afdera, then after breakfast, and drive to Mekele 6 hours to visit Abune Yemata Guh rock church. A day dedicated to climbing on the Gerhalta Mountains to explore ancient rock-carved churches. The Gerhalta Mountains of Tigray have more than 120 rock-hewn churches, each with its own unique ancient murals and relics. You don’t have to be a person of faith to be amazed by the way a culture has preserved its history and heritage. Most of these sacred cave churches were carved in the mountains. Overnight in Hotel Hawzien.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight Hawzien Hotel

5. 5Hawzen to Mekele to Addis Ababa & Departure⌄

   Depart Hawzen and drive back to 2 hours to Mekele to catch a flight back to Addis Ababa. After the lunch break, you will have time for shopping. Then you will be transferred to a hotel for a few hours to prepare your luggage and get ready for your return flight back home. In the evening, before your international flight, farewell dinner at Ethiopian Cultural Restaurant. Finally, your driver will take you to Bole International Airport and take your flight back home. Your Ethiopian Adventure ends here.

   Meals: Breakfast: Hot drink Bottle of water.

   Overnight: Overnight best Western plus pearl hotel.